Getting to Know: Mitch Friedman, North Dakota State

Throughout the off-season, we’re going to be getting to know returning NCAA Division I wrestlers from around the country. We sent questionnaires to every program in the country and will be sharing the results throughout the long trek to next fall. You can find them all whenever you like under the Getting to Know tag.

Name: Mitch Friedman

School: North Dakota State University

Class (for 2017-18): Redshirt Senior

Weight: 149

Though it took him until this past season to finally break into the line-up for the Bison, Friedman has been taking care of business in the classroom his entire college career. He has been honored academically every year since entering college and has been academic all-conference the last three years. Finally a starter, Friedman notched the biggest win of his career in a January dual against Virginia, taking down Sam Krivus, 6-4. With his senior year ahead, Friedman will have a fight on his hands just to keep his spot. However, he is well-prepared for that and, with his academic excellence, well prepared for life after wrestling.

Rate your 2016-17 season on a scale of 1-10?

6

What are you working on this off-season?

I am working on flexibility, scrambling, and making my strength positions even better.

Do you plan to wrestle freestyle or Greco in the off-season?

I plan to wrestle and train Freestyle and Greco, but don’t think my schedule allows me to compete.

What was the most interesting class you took this year?

Negotiations and Alternative Dispute Resolution

What was your favorite match this season?

Winning 5-4 over my Iowa State opponent (Blayne Briceno) in front of the awesome home crowd and my family to open up the SHAC (Sanford Health Athletic Complex).

If you could wrestle one person, living or dead, who would it be?

Charles Spurgeon. Considered “The Prince of Preachers” and would be awesome to meet.

If you could change one rule in college wrestling what would it be?

I would change out of bounds to be 1 point for the person who pushes the other guy out.

If you weren’t a wrestler, is there another sport or competitive activity you’d have pursued?

It probably would have been golf. I’ve played my whole life and was on varsity in high school.

When the season ended, what is the one food you had to eat?

Nothing in particular. I completely changed the way I ate this season and that has become the way I eat all the time now. “Eat healthy foods in satisfying portions only when I’m hungry.”

What is your major and what would you like to do with it when you graduate?

Sport Management. I hope to use those skills in Sport Ministry and reach kids and coaches with the good news of Jesus Christ.